Electronic device and data control method thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and data control method are provided. The electronic device includes a connector which is connected to an external storage medium storing media data therein; an identification unit which identifies a storage identifier (ID) of the external storage medium connected to the connector; and a controller which performs a media function corresponding to the media data stored in the external storage medium whose storage ID is identified by the identification unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0091642, filed on Sep. 28, 2009, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toan electronic device and a data control method thereof, and moreparticularly, to an electronic device and a data control method thereofwhich provides for identification of the electronic device and fordistinguishing among electronic devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

An increasing number of people use an external storage medium for theconvenience of portability. Further, the external storage mediumprovides a large capacity in memory and is capable of storing thereinlarge multimedia files including, for example, text files, music files,video files, and/or photo files, and the like. However, in most cases,the external storage medium does not have identification (ID)information. Even if the external storage medium has ID information, itis not easy to identify and distinguish among individual externalstorage media since the storage media manufactured by the samemanufacturer have the same ID information.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided anelectronic device including a connector which is connected to anexternal storage medium storing media data therein; an identificationunit which identifies a storage identifier (ID) of the external storagemedium connected to the connector; and a controller which performs amedia function corresponding to the media data stored in the externalstorage medium whose storage ID is identified by the identificationunit.

The controller may play the media data from a point of time at which theplay was suspended if the media data comprise an image signal or anaudio signal.

The electronic device may further include an ID generator, and thecontroller, if the storage ID is not identified by the identificationunit, may control the ID generator to generate a storage ID of theexternal storage medium, and stores the storage ID is not identified inthe external storage medium.

The electronic device may further include a storage unit, and thecontroller may store in the storage unit the storage ID generated by theID generator and media information about the media data stored in thestorage medium.

The electronic device may further include a display unit and a userinterface (UI) generator, and the controller may control the UIgenerator to generate a UI displaying information about the media data,and display the UI on the display unit.

The information about the media data may include, for example, a type, asize or a name of the data, or a combination thereof, a list of dataplayed during a certain time, time information on a point of time atwhich the play was suspended, a suspended location, or a thumb nailimage if the media data comprises data comprising an image signal.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provideda data control method of an electronic device, the method includingidentifying a storage identifier (ID) of an external storage mediumconnected to the electronic device by an identification unit; andperforming a media function corresponding to media data stored in theexternal storage medium having the identified storage ID.

Performing the media function may include playing the media data from apoint of time at which play was suspended if the media data comprises animage signal or an audio signal.

The method may further include generating a storage ID of the externalstorage medium if the storage ID of the external storage medium is notidentified.

The method may further include storing the generated storage ID andmedia information about the media data.

The method may further include generating a user interface (UI) fordisplaying the media information of the media data and displaying the UIon the display unit.

The media information of the media data may include, for example, atype, a size or a name of the data, or a combination thereof, a list ofdata played during a certain period, time information on a point of timeat which play was suspended, a suspended location, or a thumb nailimage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of assigning a storage identifier (ID) toan external storage medium according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of connecting a connector to the externalstorage medium, whose storage ID is identified, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates an another example of connecting a connector to theexternal storage medium, whose storage ID is identified, according to anexemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart which illustrates a data control method accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likenumerals refer to like elements and repetitive descriptions will beomitted as necessary.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to anexemplary embodiment.

An electronic device 100 includes a connector 110, an identificationunit 120, and a controller 130. The electronic device 100 may furtherinclude an identification (ID) generator 140, a storage unit 150, a userinterface (UI) generator 170 and a display unit 160, as shown in FIG. 1.

The electronic device 100 may be any type of electronic device which iscapable of playing media data. For example, the electronic device 100 bea set top box such as a TV, a DTV, a DVR, a DVD player or a BD player,or a PVR, a PC, an audio component, or an electronic frame, or the like.

The connector 110 is connected to an external storage medium 200 whichstores media data therein, and meets standards for a port of theexternal storage medium.

The identification unit 120 reads the connector 110 in order to detectand identify a storage ID of the external storage medium connected tothe connector 110. The storage ID of the external storage medium 200 mayinclude an ID assigned by the electronic device 100 according to anexemplary embodiment, or an ID assigned by another electronic deviceother than a manufacturer ID assigned by the manufacturer of theexternal storage medium 200. If the storage ID of the external storagemedium 200 is assigned by another electronic device, the identificationunit 120 may transmit the storage ID to the controller 130 (to bedescribed later) and the controller 130 may control the storage unit 150to store therein the storage ID assigned by another electronic devicetogether with information about media data stored in the externalstorage medium 200 corresponding to the ID. Accordingly, the storage IDof the external storage medium 200 may include any of the IDs assignedby a host electronic device other than the manufacturer ID informationassigned by the manufacturer of the external storage medium 200. Forexample, the storage ID may be a device specific ID that uniquelyidentifies the external storage medium 200 from another external storagemedium. Alternatively, the storage ID may be a group ID or some otherID, other than a manufacturer ID.

The identification unit 120 identifies information about the media datastored in the external storage medium 200 connected to the connector 110and transmits the information to the controller 130.

For example, the identification unit 120 may identify whether theexternal storage medium 200 has stored therein data whose play wassuspended at an earlier time, and transmit the identified data to thecontroller 130 if the external storage medium 200 whose storage ID isidentified is connected.

The controller 130 may perform a function corresponding to the mediadata stored in the external storage medium 200 whose storage ID isidentified by the identification unit 120.

The media data may include data including an audio signal, dataincluding an image signal, or photo or image data. Thus, if the mediadata is data including an image signal or an audio signal, the functionmay include a function to play again the data from a point of time atwhich play was previously suspended. If the media data is photo or imagedata, the function may include a function to display again using aviewer program a file that was displayed at an earlier time.

The ID generator 140 may generate a storage ID of an external storagemedium 200, whose storage ID is not identified by the identificationunit 120. Even though the external storage medium 200 may have inherentID information assigned by its manufacturer, other external storagemedia which are manufactured by the same manufacturer have the same ID.In such case, the ID generator 140 generates a storage ID for theexternal storage medium 200. The storage ID of the external storagemedium 200 that is generated is stored in the external storage medium200 by the controller 130. Accordingly, when the external storage medium200 which has the storage ID assigned is connected to the electronicdevice 100 in the future, the electronic device 100 may identify theexternal storage medium 200 by the storage ID.

The storage unit 150 may store therein the storage ID generated by theID generator 140 and information regarding the media data stored in theexternal storage medium 200. Thus, whenever the external storage medium200 having the storage ID assigned is connected to the electronic device100, the identification unit 120 may identify, for example, the storageID and a type and a number of media data stored in the external storagemedium 200 and update the media data information stored in the storageunit 150.

The information of the media data may include, for example, a type, asize or a name of the data, or a combination thereof, a list of dataplayed during a certain time, time information on a point of time atwhich play of the media data was suspended, and a location related to apoint of time at which play of the media data was suspended. Theinformation of the media data may include a thumb nail image, in a case,for example, in which the media data include data includes an imagesignal or image data including photos or images, or the like.

Accordingly, the storage unit 150 may store therein informationregarding any or all of the media data stored in the external storagemedium 200 having the storage ID assigned.

If at least one of media data of the external storage medium 200 havingthe storage ID assigned is suspended from being played, the storage unit150 may store therein data whose play was suspended, time information ona point of time at which play of the media data was suspended,information regarding a location at which play of the media data wassuspended, and/or a thumb nail image of the media data at a point oftime at which play was suspended.

The display unit 160 may include various display panels such as, forexample, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) ora plasma display panel (PDP), which displays thereon an image signalreceived from the outside.

The electronic device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment mayfurther include an image signal processor (not shown) to process animage signal received from the outside to be displayed on the displayunit 160. The electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment mayfurther include an audio signal processor (not shown) and a speaker (notshown) to process an audio signal received from the outside and outputthe audio signal to the speaker.

The UI generator 170 may generate a UI to display information aboutmedia data stored per storage ID in the storage unit 150. The controller130 may control the display unit 160 to display thereon the generatedUI.

The electronic device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment mayinclude a user input unit (not shown) for a user to select one of thedisplayed UI. The user input unit may include a button provided in theelectronic device 100, a touch panel for a touch screen, a remotecontroller connected to the electronic device 100 in a wired/wirelessmanner, or a keyboard or other various means to select one of the UIdisplayed on the display unit 160.

If the media data includes data including an image signal, theinformation about the media data may include, for example, a type, asize or a name of the data or a combination thereof, a list of dataplayed during a certain period, time information about a point in timeat which play was suspended, information about a location at which playwas suspended, or a thumb nail image, or the like. The certain periodmay be predetermined.

If the media data includes data including an audio signal, theinformation of the media data may include, for example, a type, a size,or a name of the data or a combination thereof, a list of data playedduring a certain period, time information about a point in time at whichplay was suspended, or information about a location at a point in timeat which play was suspended, or the like.

If the media data includes data including a photo or an image, theinformation of the media data may include, for example, a type, a sizeor a name of the data or a combination thereof, or information about aportion of the data or a location in the data which was last viewed or athumb nail image, or the like.

The external storage medium 200 may store therein any or all data whichis viewed by an application program installed in the host electronicdevice, e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) or an external hard discdrive.

FIG. 2 is an example of assigning a storage ID to the external storagemedium 200 according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown therein, if an external storage medium 200, e.g., a universalserial bus (USB) device, is initially connected to the electronic device100 through the connector 110, the identification unit 120 of theelectronic device 100 detects whether the external storage medium 200has a storage ID. If a storage ID is not detected and identified, theidentification unit 120 transmits a signal to the controller 130 toinform the controller that the external storage medium 200 does not havea storage ID. Then, the controller 130 controls the ID generator 140 togenerate a storage ID to be assigned to the external storage medium 200,in this case, the USB device. The controller 130 stores the generatedstorage ID in the external storage medium 200, i.e., the USB device.

The controller 130 controls the storage unit 150 to store therein thegenerated storage ID and information about the media data stored in theexternal storage medium 200 which is identified by the identificationunit 120.

FIG. 3 is an example of connecting the external storage medium 200,which already has a storage ID, to the connector 110 according to anexemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, if the external storage medium 200 that already hasa storage ID assigned, for example, a USB device having a storage IDstored therein, is connected to the connector 110 of the electronicdevice 100, the identification unit 120 detects and identifies thestorage ID, and the controller 130 confirms functionality related to thedata stored on the external storage medium 200, i.e., the USB device.For example, the controller 130 may confirm the data whose play was lastsuspended from the information of the media data corresponding to thestorage ID stored in the storage unit 150. If the data, whose play waslast suspended, includes data including an image signal, the controller130 plays the data from the point of time at which the play wassuspended. For example, an electronic device 100 has a display unit 160on which a mother and child image is being displayed as a backgroundimage (refer to (a) in FIG. 3). When a USB device which has a storage IDassigned is connected to the connector 110 of the electronic device 100,the display unit 160 displays thereon an image of a couple (refer to (b)in FIG. 3) which was last suspended from being played.

If the data whose play was last suspended includes data including anaudio signal, the controller 130 plays the data from a point of time atwhich the play was suspended. If the data whose play was last suspendedincludes photo or image data, a lastly-viewed photo or image is viewed.

FIG. 4 is an another example of connecting the external storage medium200, which already has a storage ID, to the connector 110 according toan exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, if the external storage medium 200 having thestorage ID assigned, e.g., a USB device, is connected to the connector110 of the electronic device 100, the identification unit 120 detectsand identifies the storage ID and the controller 130 confirms the datawhose play was last suspended based on the information of the media datacorresponding to the storage ID stored in the storage unit 150. If thedata whose play is last suspended includes data including an imagesignal, the controller 130 controls the UI generator 170 to generate aUI and display the UI on the screen. The UI may, for example, displayinformation indicating the type, size or name of the data or acombination thereof, time information regarding a point of time at whichplay was suspended, information indicating a location at which play wassuspended, or a thumb nail image at a point of time at which play wassuspended. The controller 130 controls the display unit 160 to displaythereon the generated UI. Thus, if, for example, the generated UI isselected by a user input unit, the image data may be played again fromthe point of time at which the play was suspended.

For example, an electronic device 100 has a display unit 160 on which isdisplayed an image of a mother and child as a background image (refer to(a) in FIG. 4). When a USB device which has a storage ID assigned isconnected to the connector 110 of the electronic device 100, the displayunit 160 displays thereon a UI showing the type of data whose play waslast suspended, and a thumb nail image of the image of the couple at apoint of time at which play was last suspended (refer to (b) in FIG. 4).Accordingly, if the UI is selected by a user input unit, the image datais played again from a point of time where the play was suspended.

If the data whose play was last suspended includes data including anaudio signal, the controller 130 controls the UI generator 170 togenerate a UI displaying a type, a name or a size of the data or acombination thereof, time information about a point of time at whichplay was suspended, or information about a location at which play wassuspended, and controls the display unit 160 to display thereon thegenerated UI. If the generated UI is selected by a user input unit, theaudio data is played again from the point of time at which play wassuspended.

If the data whose play was last suspended includes photo or image data,the controller 130 controls the UI generator 170 to generate a UIdisplaying a type, a name or a size of the data or a combinationthereof, or a thumb nail image of a photo or an image which was lastviewed, and controls the display unit 160 to display thereon thegenerated UI. If the generated UI is selected by a user input unit, thephoto or image data is displayed.

The controller 130 may generate a list of data played or viewed during acertain time from the media data stored on the external storage medium200 whose storage ID is identified, and control the UI generator 170 togenerate a UI displaying a type, a name or a size or a combinationthereof of the data included in the list, time information regarding apoint of time at which play was suspended, information regarding alocation at which the play was suspended, or a thumb nail image at apoint of time at which play was suspended. The controller 130 controlsthe display unit 160 to display thereon the generated UI and plays thedata selected from the UI by a user input unit from a point of time atwhich play was suspended.

A data control method according to an exemplary embodiment will not bedescribed. The data control method includes detecting and identifying astorage ID of the external storage medium connected to the connector 110by the identification unit 120; and performing a function correspondingto the media data stored in the external storage medium 200 having theidentified storage ID. If the media data includes data including animage signal or an audio signal, the performing the function includesplaying data including the image signal or the audio signal from a pointof time at which play was suspended.

The data control method may further include generating a storage ID ofthe external storage medium 200 if the storage ID of the externalstorage medium 200 is not detected and identified.

The data control method may further include storing the generatedstorage ID and information of media data stored in the storage medium200.

The data control method of the electronic device 100 may further includegenerating a UI for displaying the information of the media data anddisplaying the UI on the display unit 160. If the media data includedata including an image signal, the information of the media data mayinclude a type, a size or a name or a combination thereof of the data, alist of data played during a certain time, time information regarding apoint of time at which play was suspended, information regarding alocation at a point of time at which play was suspended or a thumb nailimage, or the like.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart which illustrates the data control method of theelectronic device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, if the external storage medium 200 is connected tothe connector 110 of the electronic device 100 (S100), theidentification unit 120 detects and identifies the storage ID of theconnected external storage medium 200 (S110). If the storage ID is notidentified, the ID generator 140 generates a storage ID for the externalstorage medium 200 to be stored in the external storage medium 200(S120). The controller 130 then stores the generated storage ID andmedia information regarding the media data stored in the externalstorage medium 200 in the storage unit 150 of the electronic device 100(S130).

On the other hand, if the identification unit 120 identifies the storageID of the external storage medium 200 (S110), the identification unit120 determines whether there is any data whose play was suspended fromthe media data stored in the external storage medium 200 having theidentified ID (S140). If it is determined that data whose play wassuspended exists, the controller 130 plays the data again from a pointof time at which the play was suspended (S160). The controller 130generates a UI displaying the type, size and name of the data, timeinformation at a point of time where the play was suspended, a locationat a point of time where the play was suspended, or a thumb nail imageat a point of time where the play was suspended and displays thegenerated UI on the display unit 160 (S150). If the UI is selected bythe user input unit, the data are played again from a point of timewhere the play was suspended (S160).

For example, the controller 130 generates a list of data whose play wassuspended during a certain time and generates a UI displaying a type, asize or a name or a combination thereof of the data in the list, timeinformation regarding a point of time at which the play was suspended,information regarding a location at a point of time at which the playwas suspended, or a thumb nail image at a point of time at which theplay was suspended, or the like, to display the UI on the display unit160 (S150). If one of the media data is selected from the UI by a userinput unit, the selected data are played again from a point of time atwhich the play was suspended (S160).

Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be madein these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles andspirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

1. An electronic device comprising: a connector which is connected to anexternal storage medium; an identification unit which identifies astorage identifier (ID) of the external storage medium connected to theconnector; and a controller which performs a media functioncorresponding to media data stored in the external storage medium whosestorage ID is identified by the identification unit.
 2. The electronicdevice according to claim 1, wherein the controller plays the media datafrom a point of time at which play was suspended.
 3. The electronicdevice according to claim 1, further comprising an ID generator, whereinthe controller, if the storage ID is not identified by theidentification unit, controls the ID generator to generate a storage IDof the external storage medium, and stores the storage ID in theexternal storage medium.
 4. The electronic device according to claim 3,further comprising a storage unit, wherein the controller stores in thestorage unit the storage ID generated by the ID generator and mediainformation about the media data stored in the storage medium.
 5. Theelectronic device according to claim 4, further comprising: a displayunit; and a user interface (UI) generator, wherein the controllercontrols the UI generator to generate a UI displaying information aboutthe media data, and displays the UI on the display unit.
 6. Theelectronic device according to claim 5, wherein the information aboutthe media data comprises a type, a size or a name of the data or acombination thereof, a list of data played during a certain time, timeinformation about a point of time at which play was suspended, alocation at which play was suspended, or a thumb nail image.
 7. A datacontrol method of an electronic device, the data control methodcomprising: identifying a storage identifier (ID) of an external storagemedium connected to the electronic device; and performing a mediafunction corresponding to media data stored in the external storagemedium having the identified storage ID.
 8. The data control methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the performing the media functioncomprises playing the media data from a point of time at which play waslast suspended.
 9. The data control method according to claim 7, furthercomprising, if the storage ID is not identified, generating a storage IDof the external storage medium.
 10. The data control method according toclaim 9, further comprising storing the generated storage ID and mediainformation about the media data.
 11. The data control method accordingto claim 10, further comprising generating a user interface (UI) fordisplaying the media information and displaying the UI.
 12. The datacontrol method according to claim 11, wherein the media informationcomprises a type, a size or a name of the media data or a combinationthereof, a list of data played during a certain period, time informationabout a point of time at which play of the media data was suspended, alocation at which play was suspended, or a thumb nail image.
 13. Anelectronic device comprising: a connector; an identification unit whichreads the connector to identify a storage identifier (ID); and acontroller which, if a storage ID is not identified, generates a storageID and transmits the storage ID using the connector, and if a storage IDis identified, performs a media function on media data received throughthe connector.
 14. The electronic device according to claim 13, furthercomprising a storage unit, wherein the controller stores the storage IDand media information related to the media data received through theconnector in the storage unit.
 15. A set top box comprising: a universalserial bus (USB) connector which is configured to receive a USB storagemedium; an identification unit which reads the USB connector to identifywhether the USB storage medium includes a storage identifier (ID) otherthan a manufacturer ID; and a controller which, if the USB storagemedium does not include the storage ID, generates a storage ID andtransmits the generated storage ID through the connector to the USBstorage medium, and if the USB storage medium includes the storage ID,performs a media function on media data received from the USB storagemedium identified by the storage ID.